/*
 * Created on Dec 17, 2003
 *
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 */
/*
 * Copyright (c) 2003-2006 Gregor Heinrich. All rights reserved. Redistribution and
 * use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
 * provided that the following conditions are met: 1. Redistributions of source
 * code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
 * following disclaimer. 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the
 * above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
 * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR
 * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
 * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO
 * EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
 * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
 * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
 * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
 * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
 * ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */
package org.knowceans.map;

import java.util.Hashtable;

/**
 * Implemented by classes that allow to search for patterns in their 
 * keys.
 * 
 * @author heinrich
 */
public interface IPatternMap<K, V> {

	/**
	 * return a Hashtable of the entries that matche the pattern
	 * @param pattern
	 * @return
	 */
	public Hashtable<K, V> getPattern(String pattern);
	

	/**
	 * return a Hashtable of the entries that match the wildcard (*)
	 * @param pattern
	 * @return
	 */
	public Hashtable<K, V> getWildcard(String wildcard);



}
